New York Family: Audra McDonald's Song

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Triumphant in her return to Broadway in 'Porgy and Bess', four-time Tony winner Audra McDonald would be the first to say her favorite role is being a mom

By Kat Harrison

A yellow-and-red friendship bracelet is twisted loosely around Audra McDonald's wrist, a daily reminder of her daughter Zoe, now 11. On the same hand, her engagement ring-an opal-set family heirloom from her fiancé, Priscilla Queen of the Desert's Will Swenson-sits proud. This is McDonald's quiet.

Now for her loud. McDonald, a four-time Tony winner and two-time Grammy recipient, perhaps most well-known for her performances in Carousel, Master Class and four-season run as Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC's Private Practice, is a woman of dynamics. Just close your eyes as she takes the stage in The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess. With operatic grace, even when she stands completely still, McDonald's voice cuts the air.

It's this steadily swinging balance of crescendos and decrescendos that brings McDonald into focus-no matter if she's singing or Tweeting about her daughter's latest one-liner.